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Above: Beth Curles and her family pose with Pankit Vachhani, M.D., (center).

Beth Curles had quietly battled with a rare blood cancer known as polycythemia vera for 15 years before being referred to UAB. She was enrolled in a clinical trial led by leukemia expert Pankit Vachhani, M.D., (Assistant Professor, Hematology and Oncology) for a drug called KRT-232 navtemadlin. In less than two years, Curles' symptoms significantly improved which resulted in her being released from treatment. She is still doing well and has returned to her duties as a grandmother. Great work, Dr. Vachhani and team!

Above: Dr. Marrazzo in the UAB News studio

Last week, UAB experts briefed the media that a “triple-demic” of respiratory diseases — RSV, influenza and COVID-19 — may converge this fall and winter. Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., MPH (Professor & Director, Infectious Diseases) cautions that we’re currently seeing increasing influenza hospitalizations and RSV, and we may experience a new variant of COVID-19 in the months ahead. Pediatric ID physician Claudette Poole, M.D., joins her in expressing concern, especially for children who are the most susceptible to flu and RSV. Both doctors advocate getting vaccinations to prevent the spread and severity of these respiratory illnesses.

Above: Dr. Seth Landefeld with Interim Dean Anupam Agarwal, M.D., at a reception

When Department of Medicine Chair Dr. Seth Landefeld came to UAB in September of 2012, he remembers being immediately impressed with the warm welcome. “The people were just extraordinary.” Ten years later, he still thinks the people are what makes UAB exceptional and notes how much we have done together.

Stefan Kertesz, M.D., MSc, (Professor, Preventive Medicine) has received grant funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs to identify factors that may be unique to suicides in veterans following opioid transitions (stoppage or reduction). Kertesz aims to better understand this phenomenon by assessing medical records, interviewing bereaved family members, and evaluating common experiences among veterans. Findings will serve as the foundation to design appropriate mitigation and prevention initiatives.

The Department of Medicine is thrilled to announce three DOM STAR Award for Staff Excellence winners for Fall 2022: Administrative Assistant in the Division of Nephrology Corene Knight; Program Director for the UAB Center for AIDS Research in the Division of Infectious Diseases Mary Thielen; and Program Director of Global Infectious Diseases in the Division of Infectious Diseases Jamie White. We are proud to recognize these outstanding staff members who make our department shine!